For James Frazier, the cool and elegant trustee of the Andréa W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation, the choice of designer to create his look for this year’s Met Gala – Rachel Scott of Diotima – was “a no-brainer.”

Scott was the recent recipient of the CFDA and Frazier Family Foundation’s first Empowered Vision Award, and James knew that the CFDA member and 2024 American Womenswear Designer of the Year had the exact sartorial sentiment to honor the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition and Black Dandyism at the Met Museum’s Costume Institute.

For Frazier, seeing Black creativity and identity celebrated on one of the biggest stages in fashion is incredibly meaningful, especially “as someone championing a designer like Rachel Scott, whose work speaks so deeply to heritage, craftsmanship, and vision,” he said. “Wearing Diotima is personal for me—it’s a celebration of culture, community, and what it looks like when Black designers are given space to shine.”

We got ready with Frazier on the big night.

Why did you decide to go with Rachel for your Met Gala look?

Choosing Rachel was a no-brainer. After she received the Empowered Vision Award from the Andrea W. & Kenneth C. Frazier Foundation and CFDA, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her and watching her vision for Diotima evolve. Seeing her Fall/Winter ‘25 presentation really sealed it for me; the tailoring, the storytelling, the artistry. With this year’s Met theme focusing on Black identity and tailoring, it felt incredibly meaningful to show up wearing a custom piece by Rachel and to continue reinforcing the importance of investing in and uplifting Black designers in every space.

Did you have a specific idea in mind? If so, what was your brief to Rachel?

I knew I wanted the look to speak to legacy—my family’s, Rachel’s, and the broader legacy of Black style that the exhibition is celebrating. The brief to Rachel was really about finding that balance between structure and emotion. I wanted something tailored but not traditional, something that felt regal, sculptural, and grounded in Rachel’s perspective. From there, it became a real conversation between us—how to honor the theme, how to push silhouettes, and how to make something unforgettable that still felt like me.

Describe the process from concept to creation. Were there any memorable anecdotes along the way?

The process was led by my stylist, Milton Dixon III. Milton and I have worked together for years and he has developed a full understanding of my style. For this year’s look we experimented with texture, silhouette as well as storytelling. We used historical and personal references while taking cues from Rachel’s aesthetic to determine what we feel is a look which fully encapsulates Dandyism.

What did you love about working with Rachel the most?

I loved seeing her design process— from verbal ideation, to sketches and finally the finished product. Working with Rachel was a pleasure. Her work reflects intentionality. It is evident when looking at her craftsmanship as well as tailoring.

The Met Gala and Costume Institute exhibition celebrate Black Dandyism. What does the theme mean to you personally? How is it significant to you?

This year’s theme feels incredibly personal. Black Dandyism has always been about more than just clothes. It is about power, presence, and pride. For me, it is a way to honor the generations of Black men and women who have used fashion to claim space, find joy, and shape identity on their own terms. Walking into the Met wearing a look crafted by Rachel is my way of paying homage and pushing that story forward.